Interview with Jim From Chimaira In Philadelphia

I had the chance yesterday to sit down with Jim (bassist of Chimaira). The interview was short but to the point, and as usual, without anymore delay, here is the interview:

Mike (CorrosiveMind): How is the Road Rage Tour going so far?

Jim (Chimaira): It's going awesome, it's already past the first week and it's just been awesome. I guess, you know, I'm just tired from it already. But no, it's good, started off in Cleveland, where we're from. Now it's pretty much moving out all over the East coast, down South and out to Texas and then back. Out to California, and it started in Cleveland and it's been really good. It was us and Machine Head in pre-production the day before the tour started.

Mike: How does it feel to be touring with Machine Head?

Jim: Well we've done it before, so it's even better doing it again. It's cool when you can tour with bands again, you know. So it's been awesome, it's been amazing. Today especially is an amazing day too. (It was the 10th Anniversary of the release of Burn My Eyes for Machine Head), and they're playing the entire album too.

Mike: It's been a while since The Impossibility of Reason came out, have you guys been working on new material so far? If so, how is it coming out?

Jim: I don't know what's going on with that. Can't talk about it at all.

Mike: What is your favorite city or venue to play in?

Jim: We actually love playing Philly, it's one of our favorites. But there's a few others, Worcester Massachusetts we've had some awesome shows. L.A., Texas, they have some awesome shows. So there's a lot of places, over in Europe is awesome too. It's good to play anywhere and people know who you are and everything.

Mike: What band would you like to tour with the most?

Jim: I'll tell you what, I had a really good time on the Slipknot tour, so I'd love to tour with them again. There's a lot of awesome bands but definitely Slipknot again. It was just fun being on that tour. I'd like to do that tour again, keep Fear Factory, have Machine Head do it, and have Slayer be on there and Hatebreed. I'd like to get some cool bands together like that and it'd be really cool.

Mike: Who or what inspired you to become a bass player or a just a musician in general?

Jim: I'd have to say Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth. Those are the bands that I grew up listening to and who inspired me so much that inspired me to play guitar, and then eventually bass.

Mike: Are things still going well with your new drummer?

Jim: Well they just started, this is our new drummer actually he just started this week.

Mike: I thought that happened a while ago?

Jim: Yea, but we got another new one, so this is Kevin Talley. It's only his first week and he's doing great.

Mike: What would be your ultimate bass to own, if it's not already the one you own?

Jim: A collection of Music Man Bass's, I already have two, so I've got about 10 more to get.

Mike: What's your opinion on the hardcore dancing as the shows now-a-days?

Jim: It's awesome, I mean, I saw people doing it my whole life growing up, see people doing it all over. It's cool, hey whatever helps them get away with all the energy they need to get rid of and not hurting people who don't want to get hurt it's cool.

Mike: What's your favorite song or songs to play live?

Jim: I like playing Pure Hatred, Power Trip, and The Dehumanizing Process.

Mike: Do you care if I ask a few off topic questions real quick as well?

Jim: Nah, go ahead.

Mike: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Jim: Goodfellas.

Mike: Favorite album?

Jim: Impossibility of Reason.

Mike: If you weren't in Chimaira right now, what would you be doing?

Jim: Cutting hair probably.

Mike: What is your favorite video game at the moment?

Jim: I really play a ton of video games, so I'll tell you what, I'll give you my top three of the moment: Halo, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and this new game Mafia which is out now.